Acetylene-gas generator.



J. M. HOOVER.

ACETYLENE GAS GENERATOR.

APPLICATION FILED NOV.9, 1914.

A Patented Ndv. 23, 1915.

. J5) SHEETS-SHEET I. 93 (92 .9 34' 7 J45 g4 L97 a Z 67 v 2a,? L94 0 I.lhll'liNIc 76 Witnesses I Inventor,

I by I I 7 I J Attorneys,

J. M. HOOVER.

ACETYLENE GAS GENERATOR. APPLICATION FILED NOV.9. 1-914;

" 1,161,675. Patented NOV. 2 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2. .9 J7 J4 Witss%\ lnv'en Q I Q r I I 1 1 Attorneys,

J. M. HOOVER.

ACETYLENE GAS GENERATOR.-

APPLICATION FILED NOV.9. 1914.

Inventor;

Attorneys.

Patented Nov. 23, 1915.

3 SHEETSSHE;T 3.

a'rns PAENT ornrcn. f

JOHN M. HOOVER, OFISEDALIA, MISSOURI.

ACE'IYLENE-GAS GENERATOR.

To all whom, it may concern Be it'known that I, JOHN M. Hoover, acitizen of the United States, residlng at Sedalia, in the county ofPettis and State of Missouri, have invented a new and usefulAcetylene-Gas Generator, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to acetylene gas generators especially designedfor use in connection with welding apparatus, although it is to beunderstood that the same can be employed wherever it is desired togenerate acetylene gas for any purpose.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a generator havinglocking mechanism whereby it becomes impossible to generate gas duringthe refilling process and whereby the generation of gas cannot takeplace until all necessary closures are completely shut.

A further object is to provide means whereby any gas'c'o'ntained withinthe generator will be discharged therefrom when ever the parts are setfor the purpose of refilling, so that danger of explosion is eliminated.

WVith the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention resides in the combination andarrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafterdescribed and claimed, it being understood that changes in the preciseembodiment of the invention herein disclosed, can be made within thescope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

In the accompanying drawings, the pre ferred form of the invention hasbeen shown.

In said drawings Figure 1 is a front elevation of the apparatus,"thepartsbeing shown in the positions held thereby during the gen eration ofgas. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3is a plan view of the apparatus. Fig. 4 isa vertical section through thecarbid hopper. Fig. 5 is a'section through the feed controllingdiaphragm and adjacent parts. Fig. 6 is a vertical section through thefilter. Fig. 7 is a section through a portion of thefeed mechanism. Fig.8 is a section on line A B Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is a detail view of the keeperused in connection with the gear shifting member. Fig. 10 is aperspective view of a spring strip utilized in the locking mechanisrn.

Referring to the figu'rsby 'charaetrs of I Specification of LettersPatent.

Application filed November 9, 1914.

Patented Nov. 23, 1915.

Serial No. 871,162.

gular head 5 and with an annular flange 6,

this flange being adapted to bear downwardly upon a 'springstrip -7constituting a stop. This strip is'secured at one end upon the head 2and is provided, at its other end, with an upstanding b'eveled'liead 8.When the plug 4 is in its closed position, the flange '6 bearsdownwardly on the spring strip 7 and serves to clamp said strip upon thehead 2 and to hold head 8 out of active position. When, however, theplug is partly or en tirely unscrewed, the spring strip 7 will bendupwardly so as to move its head 8 to active or obstructing position ashereinafter pointed out.

Mounted within the casing or tank 1 is a carbid holder 9, the top ofwhich is formed by the cap or head 2 hereinbefore referred to, while thebottom of the holder has an outlet spout 10 in which is arranged arotary valve 11 having segmental pockets 12, this valve being secured toa transverse shaft 13. An agitating shaft 14 -may be extendedtransversely through the lower portion of the hopper and tea pointoutside of the tank or casing 1, this shaft being formed Located outsideof but supported by the tank or casing lis a supplemental casing 17constituting a trap or washer adapted to be partly filled with; water.The bottom of this cylinder 17 is provided with an outlet normallyclosed by a screw plug'18 which is similar to the plug 4 and is adapted,when completely closed, to bind upon a spring latching strip 19 similarto the strip 7 hereinbefore referred to. said strip being formed with a.beveled head 20.

Extending downwardly into the cylinder 17 from the interior of the tankor casing 1 is a gas pipe 21, the discharge end of which is disposedclose to the bottom of the cvlinder 17 "so that the lower portion'of thepipe is normally submerged. This pipe is Extending from the upperportion of the cylinder 17 is a gas pipe 25 opening into the bottom of afilter 26, this filter containing a central core of filtering materialsuch as shown at 27, the same being inclosed within a fine mesh screen28. An outlet A pipe 29 extends from the filter and opens into a valvecasing 30from which extends a distributing pipe31.v

Extending. from. the top of the tank or casing 1 is an outlet pipe 32discharging into the lower portion of a trap including a cylinder 33from the upper portion of which extendsa vent pipe 34. This vent pipemay extend to a point outside of the inclosure in which the apparatus islocated. The trap 33 is adapted to be partly filled with water and ascrew plug 35 normally closes a filling opening in the top of the trapwhile another screw plug 36 normally closes a drain opening in-thebottom of the trap. These screw plugs 35 and 36 are of the sameconstruction as the plug 4 hereinbefore de scribed and each of themnormally clamps upon a spring strip such as shown in detail in Fig. 10.these strips being indicated generally at 37 and 38. A branch pipe 39extends from the pipe 32to a safety valve 40.

Pipe 32 has a valve 41 the stem of which is formed with a radiallyextending arm 42.

The. shaft 13 of valve 11 is extended through the side of tank or casing1 and is provided upon its outer end portion with a gear 43 and with awheel 44 from which a grip or handle 45 is preferably extended.

- A locking stem 46 is supported above the gear 43 and is slidablymounted within the lower portion of a casing 47 in which is disposed adiaphragm 48. The upper end of the rod '46 is secured to the diaphragmand a spring 49 is mounted on the p n 46 and bears at one end againstthe diaphra m such as thus yieldingly support the diaphragm and pin. Thediaphra m constitutes the bottom of a pmssure chamber'50 within thecasing 47 this pressure chamber communicating. through a pipe 51, withthe interior of the tank or casing 1, there being a pressure gage 52mounted on the pipe 51 for the purpose of indicating the pressure withinthe tank or casing 1. Under normal conditions, pin 46 is supported outof engagement with the gear 43. 'VVhen, how ever, the pressure oflthegas becomes sufficient to press the diaphragm 48 downwardlv against theaction of spring 49, pin 46 is lowered. into engagement with the gear 43andthus holds the shaft 13 and valve 11 against rotation. A locking dog53 is pivotally connected to the casing or tank .1 and is adapted toengage gear 43 to hold it against rotation, this dog constituting asupplemental locking means.

Arranged above the shaft 13 and projecting beyond the tank or casing 1is a fixed shaft 54 on which a gear 55 is slidably and revolublymounted. This gear is connected to a drum56 to which is secured one endof a cord 57, this cord having weights 58 secured to its free end andsaid cord being normally wound about the drum. A bracket 59 is extendedoutwardly from the casing 1 and has a slot 60 provided with spacednotches 61 and 62 in the lower wall of the slot. Pivotally connected tothis bracket is a shifting strip 63 having an ex tension 64which looselystraddles the upper portion of gear 55. A pin 66 is carried by the strip63 and is adapted to be moved into position within either of the notches61 and 62, thus to hold gear 55 either in or out of mesh with gear 43.Strip 63 has a handle .67 whereby it can be manipulated readily.

It is to be understood that gear 43 is not secureddirectly to the shaft13. Instead it is preferably mounted as shown in detail in Figs. 7 and8. A ratchet wheel 68 having an internal series of ratchet teeth asshown at 69 is keyed to the shaft 13 and the gear 43 rotates upon thisratchet wheel. A spring pawl 70 is secured to the gear and projects intothe ratchet wheel so as to engage the teeth 69. When the'wheel 44 isrotated in one direction, the gear 43 rotates therewith and motion istransmitted through the pawl 70 to the ratchet wheel 68 and thus to theshaft 13. However, when the rotation of wheel 44 and gear 43 isreversed, as when it is desired to wind the cord 57 upon the drum 56,the pawl 70 will slip over the ratchet teeth 69 and shaft 13 will not berotated.

Opening into the lower portion of the tank or casing 1 is a filling pipe71 provided at its upper end with a funnel 72 so that water may bepoured thereinto readily. This filling pipe 71 has a valve 73 providedwith a radially projecting stem 7 4 which, as shown particularly in Fig.3, is preferably slotted longitudinally as shown at 75. A drain pipe 76extends from the bottom portion of the casing or tank 1 and has a valve77, the stem of which is formed with a long flat head 78.

, Journaled within suitable bracketsupon the wall of the tank or casing1 is a vertical controlling shaft 7 9 having a manipulating handle 80fixedlv connected thereto. This handle is provided with a slot 81 which,when the handle is in one position, receives the stem 74 of valve73.When the handle i shifted out of engagement with stem 74, thus rotatingshaft 79, it moves into engagement with a spring catch 8 secured to thetank or casing 1.

An arm 82 extends radially from and rotates with the shaft 79 andpivotally connected to this arm is a stem 83 slidably mounted within aguide bracket 84 mounted on the cylinder 17 This stem 83 is preferablyhooked as shown at 85 and is provided at its free end with jaws 86normally embracing and engaging the annular head or plug 23 so as thusto hold the plug against rotation. Another arm 87 is extended radiallyfrom and rotates with the shaft 7 9 and is pivotally connected to a stem88 slidably mounted within a guide bracket 89 on the bottom Y ofcylinder 17. This stem 88 is likewise hooked and formed with jaws in thesame manner as is the stem 83, the jaws v normally straddling andengaging the annular head of the screw plug 18. Another arm 90 extendsradially from and rotates with the shaft 79 and is pivotally connectedto a stem 91 slidably mounted in a engage the annular head 5 of thescrew plug 4, thus to hold said plug against rotation. Arms 94 areextended radially from and rotate with the shaft 79 and are pivotallyconnected to stems 95 which are guided within brackets 96 on the trap33, these stems being provided with jaws 97 which straddle and engagethe annular heads of the screw plugs 35 and 36 so asto hold them againstrotation. Another arm 98 is secured to and extends radially from theshaft 79 and is designed to rotate with the shaft. This arm 98 isconnected, by a link 99, to the stem 42 of the valve 41. When thevarious plugs hereinbefore described are held against rotation inthemanner set forth, the valve 41 is held closed so that gas cannot escapefrom the tank 'or casing 1 by way of the trap 33 and vent pipe 34.Another arm 100 is secured to and rotates with the shaft 7 9 and has astem 101 pivotally connected to it, this stem being provided with jaws102 similar to the jaws 93 and which jaws 102 straddle and engage theelongated head 78 of the stem of valve 77, thus holding said headagainst rotation. Another arm 103 is secured to and rotates with theshaft 79 and is connected, by alink 104, to the dog 53 hereinbeforereferred to.

lVith the parts positioned as shown and described, the feed mechanism isfree to operate and all of the outlets and inlets except that leadingthrough the pipes 21, 25, 29 and 31, are closed and locked. Thegeneration of gas is effected as ordinarily, the rotation of valve 13resulting in the discharge of predetermined quantities of carbid intothe water contained within the lower portion of the tank or casing 1.Shaft 13 can be rotated by hand after gear 55 has been shifted laterallyout of mesh with gear 43 as shown in Fig. 1. If, however, it

ply of carbid within the holder 9, to drain the tank or casing 1, orshould it be desired to drain either ofthe traps 17 and 33, or to supplywater to the interior of the tank or casing 1, it would be necessary torotate shaft 79 in order that the valves to be operated or the plugs tobe removed might be-released. When this shaft 7 9 is rotated by means ofhandle 80, said handle leaves the stem 74 and becomes caught in thelatch 81. During this movement the various stems 88, 83, 91, 95, etc,are actuated so as to withdraw the jaws from engagement with the variousplugs and at the same time valve 41 is opened by the power exertedthrough link 99 upon the stem 42. Dog 53 is likewise projected intoengagement with gear 43 so that it becomes impossible for the feedmechanism to operate. With the various jaws and'valves so positioned,should any one of the plugs 4, 23, 18, 35 or 36 be partly or entirelyremoved, the spring strips 7, etc., controlled thereby would be releasedand their heads which are normally held, by the plugs, out ofthe pathsofthe respective stems, would spring outwardly into the paths of thestems, thus preventing said stems from'moving back toward the plugsuntil all of the plugs have been closed. In other words, should one ofthe plugs be left partly open after all of the plugs have been tightlyclosed, the one spring controlled by said plug would remain in itsoutstanding position and would interfere with the shifting of thejawsadjacent said spring strip back to their initial orlooking position.Consequently, as all of the jaws movetogether, all of said jaws would beheld out of engaging position until the one remaining plug had beencompletely closed. Should the flat head 78 of the stem of valve 77 beturned out of normal position, it would present its broad face to thejaws 102 and thus prevent said jaws as well as all of the other jaws ofthe apparatus from moving back to their normal or engaging positionsuntil head 78 had been turned to close valve 7 7 Until all of the jawsare returned to their engaging positions, the feeding mechanism will beheld in locked position. As soon as all of the jaws are free to move notuntil said stem has been turned to close valve 73. This movement ofhandle back to its normal position out of engagement with catch 81 willresult in the looking of all of the plugs and valves and the release ofthe feeding mechanism.

It will be obvious that by means of the mechanism herein described, itbecomes impossible to open the apparatus at any point unless the ventfor the gas is first opened. Consequently an explosion of gas underthese conditions is prevented. It is, furthermore, impossible to operatethe feed mechanism While any part of the apparatus is open and,therefore, there is no danger of generation of gas under theseconditions. Instead, every plug and valve of the controlling mechanismmust be closed be fore the generation of gas can be efiected.

What is claimed is 1.,In' an acetylene generator, the combination with atank, a carbid holder adapted to discharge thereinto, and a screwclosure for the carbid holder, of mechanism for discharging carbid fromthe holder, locking means engaging the closure to prevent unscrewingwhen in shut position, aspring ob structing strip held inactive by theclosure when shut, and means on the strip and shiftable by the stripinto the path of the lock-t ing means when the closure is unscrewed, forholding the locking means in inactive position, and means controlled bythe locking means, when held inactive, for locking the carbiddischarging means against movement.

2. In an acetylene generator, a tank, a carbid holder, mechanism fordischarging carbid from the holder and into the tank, a gas vent, avalve therein, a closure for the carbid holder, a spring obstructingmeans normally depressed thereby when the closure is shut, a shaft,means operated by the rotation of the shaft in one direction forengaging the closure, to hold it in shut position, said means beingadapted to be engaged by the obstructing means when the closure is outof shut position, thereby to be heldv against movement toward the clo su re, and means operated by said shaft for opening the valve when saidclosure engaging means is out of engaging position.

3. An acetylene generator including a tank, a carbid holder, mechanismfor discharging carbid from the holder and into the tank, a closure forthe holder, a spring 7 obstructing means held normally depressed by theclosure when shut, a shaft, a vent pipe, a valve within the vent pipe,means operated by the movement of the shaft in one direction forengaging the closure to hold the same in shut position, said obstruct- 7ing means being movable into engagement sure is out of shut position,means operated by the shaft for opening the valve when said closureengaging means is out of engaging position, means operated by said shaftfor locking the mechanism against movement when the valve is open, adrain pipe extending from the tank, a valve therein having a stem, saidstem being provided with a flat elongated portion, means movable withthe shaft for engaging said portion of the stem to hold the valve inclosed position during the unlocking of the mechanism, said last namedmeans and the flattened portion of the stem of the drain pipecooperating to prevent the unlocking of the carbid discharging mechanismuntil the drain pipe has been closed.

a. An acetylene generator including a tank, a carbid holder, mechanismfor discharging carbid from the holder and into the tank, a closure forthe holder, a spring obstructing means held normally depressed by theclosure when shut, a shaft, a vent pipe, a valve within the vent pipe,means operated by the movement of the shaft in one direction forengaging the closure to hold the same in shut position, said obstructingmeans being movable into engagement with the said closure engaging meansto hold it removed from the closure when said closure is out of shutposition, means operated by the shaft for opening the valve when saidclosure engaging means is out of engaging position, means operated bysaid shaft for locking the mechanism against movement when the valve isopen, a washer in communication with the tank and having a fillingopening and a drain opening, a closure for each of said openings, springobstructing means held inactive by the closures when shut, meansoperated by the shaft during the closing of the vent valve and therelease of the mechanism for locking said closures of the washer in shutposition, said means being shiftable out of engagement with the closuresduring the movement of the shaft to lock the mechanism and open the ventvalve, the spring obstructing means adjacent said closures constitutingmeans for engaging said closure locking means and holding them out ofengagement with the closures when said closures are out of shutpositions.

5; In apparatus for generating acetylene, the combination with a tank, acarbid holder, and mechanism for discharging carbid from the holder andinto the tank, of a washer having a filling opening and a drain opening,closures for said openings, a vent pipe, a trap in communication withthe vent pipe and having a filling opening and adrain opening, closuresfor said openings, a valve for controllingcommunication between the tankand'the trap, a closure for the upper end of the carbid holder, a valvedfilling pipe opening into the tank, a valved pipe, a

controlling shaft, means operated by the movement of said shaft in onedirection for simultaneously looking all of the closures, closing thevent and closing the valved feed pipe during the release of themechanism for discharging carbid and for releasing all of the closuresand opening the vent valve during the locking of said mechanism, andseparate means each of which is adapted to 10 hold the shaft againstrotation to release the discharging mechanism When any one of theclosures, the valved feeding pipe or the valved drain pipe is open.

Intestimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixedmy signature 15 Copies of this patent may be obtained for five centseach, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. C.

